Our staff is on our web site and museum contact numbers (phone and e-mail) are
readily available.  I get a few "Tell me everything about the Chihuahuan
Desert" type questions and a few more specific ones about subjects on our
sites, but not a heavy burden by any means.  We also get semi-professional and
professional inquiries from individuals who have picked up the contact through
our web sites.  All in all, having availability is a plus and not all that
onerous.

Art Harris

Jeremy T. Chrabascz wrote:

> There has been debate here internally on this matter as we look to expand
> our web site.  There is some concern over the harvesting of e-mail
> addresses and spamming.  There is also some concern over tremendously
> increasing the volume of public inquiries and the staff's inability to
> accomodate them.
>
> It has been suggested the we should utilize a central e-mail address for
> all inquiries instead of individual, personal staff addresses.  Some have
> also suggested that we *not* include staff names, titles or phone numbers.
>
> Personally, I see no threat or inconvenience in posting my name or title on
> our web site.  As a public institution, I believe we should help the public
> get the answers it needs from the people it needs to get them as
> efficiently and painlessly as possible.
>
> However, there is also a concern that any 6th grader with a computer or a
> telephone can flood the system with inquiries the night before a test or
> paper is due, etc.  And, being that we are not a research institution, we
> are not setup to deal with such things...at least not on a regular basis.
>
> We are somewhat divided here on this issue.  Perhaps I am too idealistic
> but a wise colleague once advised me, "Remember that your credentials as a
> curator don't mean very much to lots and lots of people.  Don't ever lord
> them over anyone. Answer all queries from the public, no matter who they
> may be with sincerity and good will.  Return all phone calls, emails...and
> letters.  You can build up tremendous good will...this way."
>
> Yet I suppose the real question at hand is how easy we make it for that
> public to reach us.
>
> Please weigh in.  Certainly thoughts on this matter vary from institution
> to institution and it is a serious issue that directly impacts staff
> resources.
>
> Thank you for your time.  - Jeremy T. Chrabascz
>
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--
Laboratory for Environmental Biology, Centennial Museum
University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX  79968-0915
[log in to unmask]   http://utep.naturalhistory.museum
http://nasa.utep.edu/chih/chihdes.htm

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